Compressor valve



Aug- 4, 1954 E. P. THOMAS 3,143,133

COMPRESSOR VALVE Filed Aug. 28, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. EDMuNPPForms BY wazzi zzA ATTORNEYS.

Aug. 4, 1964 E. P. THOMAS COMPRESSOR VALVE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug.28. 1962 INVENTOR. Earn/rm F? 77mm: [12% /JL ATTORNEYS.

Aug. 4, 1964 E. P. THOMAS COMPRESSOR VALVE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Aug.28, 1962 S m RR N mm R 6 0 EM w m, A P A? 0% W United States Patent3,143,133 CGMPRESSOR VALVE Edmund P. Thomas, Allentown, Pa., assignor toThe v hgtiMotor Company, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation 0 10 Filed Aug.28, 1962, Ser. No. 219,958 9 Claims. (Cl. 137-45444) This inventionrelates to gas compressors and more particularly to gas compressorvalves.

In gas compressors, control of the flow of gas to and from eachcompression chamber is normally accomplished by unidirectional valveseach of which is opened and closed by pressure differential. Thesevalves are inlet and outlet valves referred to usually as suction anddischarge valves. In the usual compressor valve, a metal, generallysteel, valve member is provided which is abuttable against acomplemental valve seat. Either the inherent flexibility of the valvemember is utilized, or some biasing means is provided, to urge a valvemember into a normally closed condition against its seat. The valve ofthis invention is of the class where the inherent resiliency of thevalve members is utilized for the biasing force.

With gas compressor valves, each valve member remains in a closedcondition until there is a sufiicient pressure differential between thegas bodies on opposite sides of the valve member to cause it to open.Thus, in the case of a suction valve, the valve members will remain inclosed condition until the external pressure of the ambient atmosphere,or an earlier stage of the compressor, is greater than the resiliency ofthe valve member plus the internal pressure within a communicatingcompression chamber. When this external pressure exceeds the internalpressure the valve member is forced open and gas is forced into thecompression chamber by the pressure of the ambient atmosphere. When thepiston commences its compression stroke the increase in pressure withinthe chamber will close the suction valve and the suction valve, orvalves, will remain in a closed condition until the next suction stroke.The compression will continue until the pressure in the compressionchamber is greater than the pressure in an outlet line plus theresiliency of a discharge valve member. At this time the valve membersof each discharge valve open and gas is forced into the outlet line.

Because heat is released when a gas is compressed, a great deal of heatis present when a compressor is in operation in most applications. Thisheat released from the compressed air can and does cause considerabledifficulty particularly in connection with compressor valves.

Frequently, hydrocarbons are used as lubricants in air compressors.These hydrocarbons become entrained in the compressed air. Because ofthe high temperatures and pressures involved, carbon and hydrocarbondeposits will frequently build up within the interior of a compressor.Deposits collecting on the valve members and valve seats can greatlyinterfere with valve operations and cause a need for early repair orreplacement. Warpage, distortion and premature fatigue are otherfrequent deleterious valve member conditions which result from excessiveheat.

The present invention mitigates these problems by providing a valve inwhich for any given volume of gas, there are considerably less frictionand heat losses. This valve is designed to give greatly decreasedvelocities With any given volume of air. Expressed another way, thevalve of this invention has a greater flow capacity in any given spacethan prior-known valves.

The valve of this invention also has a greatly simplified constructionso that it is easy and inexpensive to 3,143,133 Patented Aug. 4, 1964manufacture. In addition, it is simple and easy to maintain and/orrepair and replace.

Possibly the principal one of the advantages of the valves of thisinvention are illustrated by the requirement of gas transmission pipelines. Compressors used in these lines must handle tremendous volumes ofgas at very low compression ratios. By way of example the typical gastransmission will have a 1.3 to 1 compression ratio as compared with aircompression Where typical ratios will vary from 2 /2 to 1 to as high as5 to 1 or higher. With the valve of this invention tremendous volumes ofgas can be handled very quickly. Since the volume and speed of thisvalve is greater than prior valves the speed of the compressor may beincreased considerably. With a higher compression speed obviously asmaller compressor may be employed with an attendant substantial savingin space and cost.

The listed advantages and others are obtained through the use of a bodywith a surrounding cage. The body has an end opening disposedtransversely with respect to the axis of the body. This opening iseither an inlet or an outlet depending on whether it is a suction ordischarge valve. In either event, the end opening communicates with thecompression chamber, and the opening is disposed essentially in a planeparalleling the aXis of a compression chamber. The body also has aplurality of circumeferentially spaced, radially extending passageswhich communicate with the end opening and with an internal valvingchamber between the cage and the body. The cage has a plurality ofcircumferentially ottset, radially extending, valve passages extendingfrom the valving chamber to the atmosphere ambient to the valve.

In a suction valve the cage, and ina discharge valve the body has planarvalve seats which each surround one of the passages at the valvingchamber end. These valve seats generally parallel the axis of the valve.The Wall of the valving chamber opposite the valve seats is contoured toprovide curved stops for the valve members when open. In addition, thewalls are shaped such that the ends of the valve members, or reeds, arerestrained and retained in the valve seat at all times. The combinationof this end restraining and the curved stops'coact to eliminate valveflutter or chatter and to overcome the problem of premature fatiguecaused by excessive valve member flexure.

The cage telescopes over the body and over an end boss on an end cap.The cap includes a radially extending mounting flange. The entireassembly then will slide into a circular aperture in the compressor andbe mounted by simply securing the mounting flange to a wall of thecompressor.

One of the features of the invention is the simplified manner in whichthe valve is maintained in an assembled condition. Bolts or studs extendfrom either the cage or the body through the end cap. The cage and bodyhave overlying shoulders and the one fitted with studs is spaced fromthe end cap. Tightening the studs then causes the shoulders to coact andbring the other element into tight abutment with the end cap so that theentire mechanism is maintained in an assembled condition.

Accordingly, one of the principal objects of this invention is toprovide a novel'and improved compressor valve which has a greater flowcapacity for any cross sectional area than prior valves.

Another object of the invention is to provide a simplified, dependablevalve of novel and improved construction which has a greater lifethanprior valves.

A general object of the invention is to provide a novel and improvedvalve of simplified, inexpensive and dependable construction which isefiicient in operation and easy to repair and/ or replace.

A further object of the invention is to provide a compressor valve whichhas valve passages disposed generally parallel to the axis ofcompression chamber access opening thereby providing greater volumecapacity than prior valves of comparable size and with it cooleroperation for any given set of conditions.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a novel and improvedvalve which is free of chatter or flutter.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a valve in which thevalve member flexes When open such that the spacing between a valvemember and its seat varies from one end to the other whereby providingthe greatest flow capacity in the area where flow is the greatest.

Other objects and a fuller understanding of the invention may be had byreferring to the following description and claims taken in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a partially schematic sectional view of a portion of an aircompressor including one suction and one discharge valve;

FIGURE 2 is a sectional View, on an enlarged scale with respect toFIGURE 1, of a suction valve as seen from an axial plane of crosssection;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view of the valve of FIGURE 2 as seen from theplane indicated by the line 33 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary sectional view of the valve of FIGURE 2 asseen from the plane indicated by the line 44 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 5 is an axial sectional view of a discharge valve on the scale ofFIGURE 2;

FIGURE 6 is a sectional view of the valve of FIGURE 5 as seen from theplane indicated by the line 6-6 in FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary sectional view of the valve of FIGURE 5 asseen from the plane indicated by the line 7-7 of FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary sectional view in an axial plane of crosssection of the valve of FIGURE 2 showing the reeds in an open condition;

FIGURE 9 is a sectional view of the device of FIG- URE 8 as seen fromthe plane indicated by the line 99 of FIGURE 8;

FIGURE 10 is a fragmentary sectional view of the valve of FIGURE 5 on acomparable scale and showing the valve members in an open condition;and,

FIGURE 11 is a fragmentary sectional view of the valve of FIGURE 10 asseen from the plane indicated by the line 1111 of FIGURE 10.

In FIGURE 1 a fragmentary view of a gas compressor is shown. Thecompressor has a block 10 defining at least one compression chamber 11and suction and dis charge manifolds 12, 13. A head 14 is secured to theblock 10 to close the end of the compression chamber 11. The block andhead 11, 14 may be equipped with the usual water coolant chambers 15. Apiston 16 is connected to a piston rod 17 and is reciprocable in thechamber 11.

A suction valve is shown generally at 20 while a discharge valve isshown generally at 21. The suction valve provides selective gascommunication between the suction manifold 12 and the compressionchamber 11 while the discharge valve provides selective exhaustingcomrnunication between the compression chamber 11 and the dischargingmanifold 13.

Suction Valve The details of construction of the suction valve are bestdisclosed in FIGURES 2-4 and FIGURES 8 and 9. Referring now to thesefigures and to FIGURE 2 in particular the suction valve 20 includes anend cap 22. The end cap has a radially extending annular mounting flange23. The mounting flange 23 has a plurality of spaced mounting bores 24for receiving mounting bolts 25, FIG- URE 1. As is best seen in FIGURE1, the mounting flange 23 overlies the walls of the head 10 andsurrounds an intake valve mounting chamber 26 in the head It). Anannular gasket 28, FIGURE 2, is interposed between the end cap 22 andthe head 10 to form a fluid-tight seal between them and prevent theescape of air through the suction valve mounting aperture 26. Perhapsmore important in the case of the suction valve, the gasket 28 preventsthe ingress of dirt, water and other contaminants.

The end cap 22 has a reduced diameter intermediate portion 30 and a bossportion 31 of still smaller diameter. The flange, intermediate, and bossportions 23, 30, 31 are in axial alignment with the intermediate andboss portions disposed inwardly of the flange portion. In the preferredarrangement the gasket 28 is carried by the intermediate portion 30.

A circular body 33 is provided. The body is in axial alignment with theend cap and positioned adjacent the inner end of the boss portion 31. Atubular cage 34 is telescoped over the body and the boss portions and,in the suction valve arrangement, into abutment with the intermediateportion 30. A gasket 28 is positioned between the inner end of the cageand the head 10.

The body and cage 33, 34 have complemental cylin- V drically contouredportions at 35 and 36. The portions at 35 are axially spaced from theportions at 36. The body and cage have intermediate portions 37, 38between the spaced cylindrically contoured portions 35, 36. Theintermediate portions 37, 38 are valving chamber surfaces which areradially spaced from one another to define a valving chamber 39 betweenthem. The valving chamber 39 will be described in greater detail below.

The body 33 has a radially outwardly extending flange portion 40adjacent its innermost end 41. This portion 40 overlies the cagecylindrical portion at 36. A plurality of bolts 42, only one of which isshown, extend through the end cap and are secured to the body 33. Thesebolts draw the body toward the end cap 22 and bring the flange 40 intotight abutment with the surrounding cage 34. This in turn forces thecage into tight abutment with the intermediate portion 30. To assuretight rigid connection of the various elements the body and end cap arespaced from one another. To assure proper alignment of the cage, dowels43 are provided. As will become apparent from the description of thedischarge valve, this construction can be reversed so that the cage isbolted to the end cap and forces the body into abutment with the endcap. In either event, a greatly simplified construction has beenprovided in which the entire valve can be dismantled by the simpleremoval of a few bolts.

The body 33 has a circular intake opening 45 at its inner end. Thisopening communicates with a body cavity 46 which extends toward the endcap to an annular termination at 47. A deflection cone 48 extends fromthis annular termination inwardly toward the inner end 41 terminatingshort of it.

The body includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced radiallyextending gas passages 49 which connect the valving chamber 39 with thebody cavity 46. Each of these passages 49 has spaced, arcuate endsurfaces 56 which lie in segments of a circle having a center exteriorof the body. The surfaces are so shaped and positioned to provide theeffect of an outwardly flaring passage. Each such passage 49 extends, atits inner end, the length of a tapered cavity wall portion 51. This wallportion 51 defines part of the cavity 46 and it flares outwardly fromthe annular termination 47. The passages 49 at their valving chamberends extend the length of the body valving chamber surface 37.

The cage 34 has a plurality of radially extending circumferentiallyspaced fluid passages 52. Each of these passages 52 extends radiallyfrom the valving chamber 39 to the periphery of the valve. The cagepassages 52 are circumferentially offset with respect to the bodypassages 49. The cage passages, similar to the body passages, havearcuately curved spaced end surfaces 54. The

segments of each cage passage 52 are segments of a common circle havingits center exterior of the cage. The cage passages 52 flare outwardlyfrom a valving chamber end opening of a length corresponding to thelength of the cage valving chamber surface 38 to a wider exterioropening.

Valve seats 56 are formed in the cage valving chamber surface 38 aroundthe valving chamber end openings of each of the cage passages 52. Thesevalve seats 56 are preferably each planar and each lies in a planeparalleling the axis of the valve. The valve seats are recessed withrespect to the circumferentially contoured remainder of the cage chambersurface, and each extends axially past the intermediate portion in bothdirections into the spaced cage cylindrical portions at 35 and 36.

A thin flexible valving member 57 is positioned in normally abuttingrelationship with each valve seat 56. These valve members, or reeds asthey are known, are flat steel members which are flexed into a curvedcondition when the valve is open, see FTGURES 8 and 9. The body chambersurface 37 is concave, being curved inwardly slightly, to provide aplurality of spaced stops 59 for the valve members when they are open.These stops are each contoured to the shape which the valve member willassume when flexed outwardly to an open position. Thus the body valvingchamber surface 37 is closest to the cage chamber surface adjacent thecylindrical portions 35, 36 and the body surface curves its greatestradial spacing from the cage chamber surface at the center, axiallyspeaking, of these surfaces. The ends of the reeds are restrained, whenopen, by the spaced recesses provided by the ends of the valve seats 56and the adjacent body cylindrical portions.

In operation, as the piston 16 commences to travel downwardly away fromthe head 11, the suction valve 29 will be closed and the discharge valve21 will assume a closed condition. Because both valves are closed thepressure in the chamber 11 will be reduced. When the pressure in thechamber 11 has been reduced to a point where the valving chamberpressure plus the inherent resiliency of the valve members 57 is lessthan the pressure of the gas in the intake manifold, pressure of the gasin the intake manifold will force the reeds or v-alve members 57 open.The reeds 57 travel radially inwardly against the opposing stops 59,FIGURES 8 and 9. With the reeds in the open positions against the stops59 gas travels through the cage passages 52 and then into the valvingchamber 39. From the valving chamber 39 the gas being drawn into thecompressor then passes through the body passages 49, the body cavity 46and through the inner end passage 45 into the compression chamber. Thispath of gas flow is depicted by the arrows of FIGURE 9.

Discharge Valve The detailed construction of the discharge valve 21 isshown in FIGURES 5-7 and and 11. The construction of the discharge valveis substantially identical to the suction valve with the exception ofthe construction which maintains the valve in an assembled condition andthe valving structure permitting undirectional flow in a directionopposite from that of the suction valve 28.

Accordingly, the description of the discharge valve will be confined tothese differences. For convenience of understanding of the entireconstruction, parts of the discharge valve are identified by numeralseach 109 greater than the corresponding part in the suction valve. Thus,the end cap of the suction valve is 22 and of the discharge valve, 122.The body of the suction valve is 33 and of the discharge valve, 133,while the cages are respectively 34 and 134.

The discharge valve, like the suction valve, can be readily dismantledfor repair, cleaning, replacement of the reeds and the like. In thisinstance bolts 142 secure the cage 134 to the end cap 122. A flange 140overlies a tubular body 133; In this construction the cage 134 isslightly spaced from the intermediate portion and the tension of thestuds forces the body' 133 into abutment with the boss portion 131.

The valving structure of the discharge valve is reversed with respect tothe suction valve. Thus, the cage valving chamber surface 138 is curvedoutwardly to provide spaced stops for the flexible reeds 157. Valveseats 156 are formed at spaced locations each surrounding the valvingchamber end of the body passages 149.

In operation of the discharge valve, when the pressure in thecompression chamber 11- exceeds the pressure in the discharge manifold13 plus the resiliency of the discharge reeds 157, the reeds are flexedinto the open position of FIGURES l0 and 11. Here the reeds are incurved, supported abutment with the stops of the cage 134. Gas travelsfrom the compression chamber 11 through the body cavity 146 and thenradially outwardly through the body passages 149.- The gas then travelscircumferentially through the valving chamber 139 and thence radiallyoutwardly through the cage passages 152. The gas, then, follows thepaths designated by the arrows of FIGURE 11 when passing through thedischarge valve 21.

Summary With many prior compressor valves the valving rnembers have beendisposed essentially in the path of the opening .45. Thus, the valvingmembers would be transverse to the axis of this passage and the capacityof the valve is obviously, as compared with the present valve, greatlylimited. The present valve then has the advantage of a constructionwherein the great valving area provided by the circumferentiallydisposed valve members is obtained and attendant high flow capacity withrelatively low velocity for any given volume, thoughcommunication withthe compression chamber is through a relatively small opening. The highflow capacity permits the use of a relatively small compressor for agiven job. Because the valve has a relatively large valving area ascompared to the size of the compression chamber and passages 45 and 145,a low temperature efiicient operation is obtained. Additionally, withthe particular construction shown and obtained through this design, thevalving chambers 39 and 139 have their greatest gas carrying capacity intheir center where the gas flow is the greatest further contributing tolow temperature operation. At the time valving members of the utmostsimplicity and attendant reliability are utilized. These axiallyextending, circumferentially disposed, valving members are simply thinflexible reed members wherein the inherent resiliency of the valvingmember is used for the closing biasingforce. The restraining of the endsof the reeds coupled with the curved support of the stops eliminatevalve chatter and attendant noise and premature fatigueof the reeds.This combination of low temperature operation and chatter free operationproduces exceptionally long reed life.

The simple design with radially extending passages permits formation ofthe body and chamber passages with rotary mills and thereforecontributes to simple valve manufacture. At the same time the body andcage passages together provide passages whicheffectively cooperate in aflaring manner for smooth even gas flow.

An analysis of this construction will also show that while the valve ishighly efiicient, long-lived and seldom requires repair, it is of theutmost simplicity in construction and of the utmost simplicity from therepair standpoint. The simple removal of the bolts 42 in the case of thesuction valve or the nuts 142 in the case of the discharge valve permitsthe entire valve to be dismantled for cleaning and repair or replacementof the valve members. The entire assembly telescopes from an assembledto a dismantled condition and vice versa with a minimum of effort.Further, all parts and shapes can be provided with standard machiningequipment with a minimum of specialized tools and fixtures beingrequired.

Although the invention has been described in its preferred form with acertain degree of particularity, it is understood that the presentdisclosure of the preferred form has been made only by way of exampleand that numerous changes in the details of construction and thecombination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to withoutdeparting from the spirit and the scope of the invention as hereinafterclaimed.

What is claimed is:

1. An air compressor valve comprising,

(a) a body member;

(b) a cage member surrounding the body member;

() the cage and body members having valve chamber surfaces defining avalving chamber and defining a plurality of valve member restrainingspaces;

(d) one of the member valve chamber surfaces including a plurality ofelongated flat valve seats formed therein;

(e) a plurality of elongated normally flat, flexible valve members insaid valving chamber and each oriented to cooperate with one of thevalve seats, each valve member being positioned for limited, freefloating, movement in a different one of said restraining spaces;

(1) said one member including a plurality of fluid passages therethrougheach surrounded by one of said valve seats and selectably closable whenvalve members abut the seats;

(g) said other member valve chamber surface including a plurality ofconvexly curved valve member stops each oriented to support one valvemember when the valve members are forced away from the associated seats;

(11) said other member including a plurality of passages each disposedbetween an adjacent pair of stops and each communicating with saidchamber;

(i) said body member including an open ended cavity in communicationwith each of the passages of the body member;

(1') said cavity having an end opening transverse to the longitudinalaxis of said seats; and,

(k) the passages in said cage communicating with the fluid peripherallyambient to the valve.

2. An air compressor valve comprising,

(a) a circular body member;

(b) a circular cage member telescoped over the body member in axialalignment;

(0) the cage and body members having valve chamber surfaces defining anelongated annular valving chamber in axial alignment with the membersand defining a plurality of valve member restraining spaces;

(d) one of the member valve chamber surfaces including a plurality ofelongated fiat valve seats formed therein each in a plane generallyparalleling the member axis;

(e) a plurality of elongated normally flat, flexible valve members insaid valving chamber and each oriented to cooperate with one of thevalve seats, each valve member being positioned for limited, freefloating, movement in a different one of said restraining spaces;

(7") said one member including a plurality of fluid passagestherethrough each surrounded by one of said valve seats and selectablyclosable when valve members abut the seats;

(g) said other member valve chamber surface including a plurality ofconvexly curved valve member stops each oriented to support one valvemember when the valve members are forced away from the associated seats;

(it) said other member including a plurality of passages each disposedbetween an adjacent pair of stops and each communicating with saidchamber;

(1) said body member including an open ended cavity in communicationwith each of the passages in the body member;

(j) said cavity having an end opening transverse to the axis of saidmembers; and,

(k) the passages in said cage communicating with the fluid peripherallyambient to the valve.

3. An air compressor valve comprising,

(a) a circular body defining an internal cavity open at one end and agroup of circumferentially disposed passages each extending laterallyfrom the cavity outwardly;

(b) a cage surrounding the body;

(0) the cage and body together defining an annular chamber therebetween;

(d) each of said body passages communicating with said chamber;

(e) said cage including a group of circumferentially spaced passageseach circumferentially midway between an adjacent pair of body passages;

(f) said cage passages extending laterally outwardly from said chamber;

(g) said body and cage including oppositely oriented surfaces definingthe lateral extremes of the cham- I seats formed therein eachsurrounding one passage of one group and each passage of such one groupbeing surrounded by a seat;

(1') the remainder of said one surface other than said seats beingcylindrically contoured;

(j) the other of said surfaces including spaced cylindrical portionssnugly engaging said one surface and overlying the ends of said seatswhereby to define end restraining recesses;

(k) said other surface convexly curving outwardly away from the one wallbetween said cylindrical portions;

(1) a plurality of elongated thin valve members, each positionableagainst one of the seats and having two ends each in an end restrainingrecess for limited free floating movement;

(m) each such valve member being movable laterally into abutment withsaid other surface; and,

(n) each of the valve members being oriented transversely with respectto said cavity opening.

4. An air compressor valve comprising,

(a) a circular body defining an internal cavity open at one end and adeflection cone portion extending from the other end toward the one end;

(1)) the body including a group of circumferentially disposed passageseach extending radially from the cavity outwardly;

(c) a circular cage telescoped over and surrounding the body in axialalignment;

(d) the cage and body together defining an axially aligned annularchamber therebetween;

(e) each of said body passages communicating with said chamber;

(f) said cage including a group of circumferentially spaced pasasgeseach circumferentially midway between an adjacent pair of body passages;

(g) said cage passages extending radially outwardly from the chamber;

(11) said body and cage including oppositely oriented surfaces definingthe lateral extremes of the chamber;

(i) one of the surfaces including a plurality of flat valve seats eachin a plane generally paralleling the axis of the cage and body;

(j) each of the valve seats surrounding one passage of one group andeach passage of such one group being surrounded by a seat;

(k) the remainder of said one surface other than the seats beingcylindrically contoured;

(l) the other of said surfaces including spaced cylindrical portionssnugly engaging said one surface and overlying the ends of said seatswhereby to define end restraining recesses;

(m) said other surface between said cylindrical portions curvingoutwardly away from the one surface to define spaced, convexly curved,valve member stops each between an adjacent pair of passages in theother group;

(n) a plurality of elongated, thin, flat, flexible valve members, eachpositionable against one of the seats and having two ends each'in an endrestraining recess for limited free floating movement.

() each such valve member being movable laterally into abutment with oneof said stops; and,

(p) each of the valve members being oriented parallel to said body andcage axis.

5. A compressor valve comprising,

(A) a body having an elongated circular and tubular side wall extendingfrom a first to a second end; (B) the body including a deflectionportion secured to the side wall and closing the first end;

(C) the deflection portion including a tapered part of circularconfiguration:

(i) disposed symmetrically about the axis of the body and,

(ii) tapering from its greatest diameter portion near the first end toits smallest diameter portion near the second end;

(D) a cage telescoped over the body;

(E) the side wall including a circular peripheral surface and the cage acircular internal surface;

(F) the surfaces including:

(i) axially spaced end portions in tight mating fluid sealingengagement; and,

(ii) portions intermediate the spaced portions defining the radialextremities of a valving chamber;

(G) one of said surfaces including a plurality of elongated flat valveseats each:

(i) disposed substantially in a plane paralleling the axis of the valve;and,

(ii) extending from one of the spaced end portions of said one surfaceto the other spaced end portion of the one surface;

(H) the intermediate portion of the other of said surfaces having acentral part spaced from said one surface more than the remainderthereof and con vexly curvedly flaring from its spaced end portions tosaid central part;

(I) a plurality of flat, thin and flexible valve members each associatedwith one seat;

(I) said intermediate portion of said other surfaces includinglongitudinally extending stop parts each:

(i) being in radial alignment with a valve seat;

and,

(ii) being a stop for one of the valve members when open;

(K) the cage and body each having a set of passages extending throughthe associated intermediate portion with:

(i) the body passages extending radially inwardly from said chamberthrough said side wall; and,

(ii) the cage passages extending radially outwardly from said chamberand communicating with the atmosphere ambient to the valve; and,

(L) each passage of one set being surrounded at its chamber end by aseat and the passages of the other end each communicating with thechamber at a location between two adjacent stop parts.

6. A gas compressor valve comprising,

(a) a circular end cap including a radially extending mounting flangeand a reduced diameter, circular connecting, portion extending axiallyinwardly from the mounting flange;

(b) said end cap also including a circular boss extending axiallyinwardly from the connecting portion and of a diameter less than theconnecting portion;

(0) said end cap including assembly recesses extend- 1% ing radiallyinwardly from the periphery of said connecting portion and assemblyholes extending longitudinally inwardly from each of said recessesthrough the connecting portion;

(d) a circular body axially aligned with and abutting the inner end ofthe boss;

(e) said body including spaced cylindrical portions of a diameter equalto the diameter of the boss-and at least as great as the diameter oftheremainder of the body;

(f) said body including an intermediate portion between said cylindricalportions and a smaller diameter portion extending from the cylindricalportion remote from the boss to the inner end of the body;

(g) said body including a fluid chamber extending from a circularopening in said inner end inwardly to an annular termination in axialalignment with the body and end cap axis;

(It) said body including a circular and tapered deflection portionextending from its largest end adjacent said annular termination towardsaid inner end of the-body;

(i) said body including a plurality of circumferentially spaced passageseach extending radially from said chamber outwardly to said intermediateportion;

(j) an annular, cage telescoped over said body and saidboss;

(k) said cage including an inwardly extending circular flange adjacentits inner end and in tight sealing engagement with said body smallerdiameter portion;

(1) said inwardly extending cage flange abutting the one of said bodycylindrical portions nearest the body inner end;

(m) studs secured to the other endof said cage and each projectingthrough one of said assembly holes;

(n) a plurality of nuts each disposed in one of said assembly recessesand each threaded onto one of said studs;

(0) said end cap intermediate portion and said cage being spaced wherebythe studs" are tensioned be tween the intermediate portion and the cagemaintaining the cage flange in the tight abutment With saidv one bodycylindrical portion and the body in tight abutment with the boss;

(p) said cage including a circular intermediate portion opposite saidbody intermediate portion and spaced therefrom to define a valvingchamber;

(q) said cage having spaced cylindrical portions on opposite sides ofits intermediate portion and each snugly surrounding one of the bodycylindrical portions;

(1') said cage also including a plurality of circumferentially disposedradially extending passages, each circumferentially offset with respectto each of the body passages;

(s) one of said intermediate portions being curved away from the otherintermediate portion;

(t) the other intermediate portion including a plurality of valve seatseach surrounding one of the communicating passages and each extendinginto and past the ends of its intermediate portion into the adjacentcylindrical portion to thereby define spaced restraining recesses;

(u) each of said seats being disposed generally in a plane parallelingthe cage and body axis;

(v) a plurality of long, thin, flexible, normally flat valve memberseach oriented to normally abut one of the seats in tight sealingengagement, and each flexible away from the seat against a radiallyopposite part of the curved intermediate portion; and,

(w) the opposite ends of each of said valve members each projecting intoone of said restraining recesses.

7. A gas compressor valve comprising,

(a) circular cage and body members telescoped together;

(b) said members defining an annular valving chamber therebetween; I

(c) each of said members including radially disposed, circumferentiallyspaced passages communicating with the chamber;

(d) the cage member passages each being circumferentially otfset Withrespect to the body member passages;

(e) one of the members including valve seats surrounding the chamberends of its passages;

(1) long, thin, flexible reeds in the chamber each oriented toselectively abut one of the seats in seal ing engagement;

(g) the body member passages each having curved ends with the ends ofeach passage being arcs of a common circle having an axis of curvatureexternal of the body member and normal to the body axis; and.

(h) the cage member passages each having curved ends with the ends ofeach passage being arcs of a common circle having an axis of curvatureexternal of the cage member and normal to the body axis.

8. A gas compressor valve comprising,

(a) circular cage and body members telescoped together;

(b) said member defining an annular valving chamber therebetween;

(c) each of said members including radially disposed, circumferentiallyspaced passages communicating with the chamber;

(d) the cage member passages each being circumferentially offset withrespect to the body member passages;

(e) one of the members including valve seats surrounding the chamberends of its passages;

(1) long, thin, flexible reeds in the chamber each oriented toselectively abut one of the seats in sealing engagement;

(g) the body member passages each having curved ends with the ends ofeach passage being arcs of a common circle having an axis of curvatureexternal of the body member and normal to the body axis,

(11) the cage member passage each having curved ends with the ends ofeach passage being arcs of a common circle having an axis of curvatureexternal of the cage member and normal to the body axis;

(i) the chamber end openings of each of the body member passages beingof substantially equal longitudinal length;

(j) the chamber end openings of each of the cage member passages beingof substantially equal longitudinal length; and,

(k) the chamber ends of the cage member passage ends having slightlygreater length than the body member passage chamber ends.

9. A unidirectional gas valve for use in combination with a gascompressor including Walls defining a circular valve receiving openingwith said valve positionable in said opening, said valve comprising:

(a) a circular end cap including a radially extending mounting flangefor overlying the opening and securement to the compressor;

(1)) first gasket means for interposement between the cap and thecompressor;

(0) a circular body member in axial alignment with the end cap;

(d) a cage member positionable within the opening and telescoped overthe body member and a portion of the end cap;

(e) means securing the members to the end cap;

(3) said body member including a fluid cavity in its end remote from theend cap extending from a circular opening inwardly to an annulartermination in axial alignment with the body and end cap axis;

(g) one of said body member and end cap including a circular anddeflection portion tapering from a large end adjacent said annulartermination to a small end near said remote end of the body;

(it) said members having surfaces defining an annular valving chambertherebetween;

(i) said body including a plurality of circumferentially spaced passageseach extending radially from said cavity outwardly to said chamber;

(i) said cage including a plurality of circumferentially disposedpassages, each circumferentially 01T- set with respect to each of thebody passages and each extending radially outwardly from said chamher tothe periphery of the cage;

(k) the surface of one of said members being convexly curved away fromthe surface of the other member in a longitudinal plane of crosssection;

(I) the surface of said other member including a plurality of valveseats each surrounding the chamber end of one of said one memberpassages; and,

(m) a plurality of long, thin, flexible, normally-flat valve memberspositioned in said chamber for limited free floating movement, eachvalve member being oriented to normally abut one of the seats in tightsealing engagement, and each valve member being flexible away from theseat against a radially opposite part of the curved surface of said onemember.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,632,155 Vollmann June 14, 1927 1,955,007 McClay Apr. 17, 19341,986,810 Haight Jan. 8, 1935 2,000,735 Arnold May 7, 1935 2,420,056Seligrnann May 6, 1947 FOREIGN PATENTS 60,774 Denmark Mar. 22, 1943UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No 3 l43,133 August 4, 1964 Edmund P, Thomas It is hereby certified that errorappears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that thesaid Letters Patent should read as corrected belo' Column 4 line 33,after "This" insert flange column 5, line 42, after "of", firstoccurrence strike out "the"; column 8, line 57, for "pasasges" readpassages column 11, line 29, for "member" read members line 46 forpassage" read passages Signed and sealed this 29th day of December1964.,

(SEAL) Attest:

ERNEST W. SWIDER EDWARD J. BRENNER Attesting Officer Commissioner ofPatents

1. AN AIR COMPRESSOR VALVE COMPRISING, (A) A BODY MEMBER; (B) A CAGEMEMBER SURROUNDING THE BODY MEMBER; (C) THE CAGE AND BODY MEMBERS HAVINGVALVE CHAMBER SURFACES DEFINING A VALVING CHAMBER AND DEFINING APLURALITY OF VALVE MEMBER RESTRAINING SPACES; (D) ONE OF THE MEMBERVALVE CHAMBER SURFACES INCLUDING A PLURALITY OF ELONGATED FLAT VALVESEATS FORMED THEREIN; (E) A PLURALITY OF ELONGATED NORMALLY FLAT,FLEXIBLE VALVE MEMBERS IN SAID VALVING CHAMBER AND EACH ORIENTED TOCOOPERATE WITH ONE OF THE VALVE SEATS, EACH VALVE MEMBER BEINGPOSITIONED FOR LIMITED, FREE FLOATING, MOVEMENT IN A DIFFERENT ONE OFSAID RESTRAINING SPACES; (F) SAID ONE MEMBER INCLUDING A PLURALITY OFFLUID PASSAGES THERETHROUGH EACH SURROUNDED BY ONE OF SAID VALVE SEATSAND SELECTABLY CLOSABLE WHEN VALVE MEMBERS ABUT THE SEATS; (G) SAIDOTHER MEMBER VALVE CHAMBER SURFACE INCLUDING A PLURALITY OF CONVEXLYCURVED VALVE MEMBER STOPS EACH ORIENTED TO SUPPORT ONE VALVE MEMBER WHENTHE VALVE MEMBERS ARE FORCED AWAY FROM THE ASSOCIATED SEATS; (H) SAIDOTHER MEMBER INCLUDING A PLURALITY OF PASSAGES EACH DISPOSED BETWEEN ANADJACENT PAIR OF STOPS AND EACH COMMUNICATING WITH SAID CHAMBER; (I)SAID BODY MEMBER INCLUDING AN OPEN ENDED CAVITY IN COMMUNICATION WITHEACH OF THE PASSAGES OF THE BODY MEMBER; (J) SAID CAVITY HAVING AN ENDOPENING TRANSVERSE TO THE LONGITUDINAL AXIS OF SAID SEATS; AND, (K) THEPASSAGES IN SAID CAGE COMMUNICATING WITH THE FLUID PERIPHERALLY AMBIENTTO THE VALVE.